Council Member Maryetta Ferre Reply to the Recall

RECALL PETITION

TO THE HONORABLE Brenda Mesa, City Clerk Pursuant to the California Constitution and California Election laws, we the undersigned registered and qualified electors of the County of San Bernardino, City of Grand Terrace, California, respectfully state that we seek the recall and removal of Maryetta Ferre holding the office of Council Member in San Bernardino County, City of Grand Terrace, California. We demand an election of a successor to that office. The following Notice of Intention to Circulate Recall Petition was served on June 22, 2006 to Maryetta Ferre:

TO THE HONORABLE Maryetta Ferre
Pursuant to Section 11020 of the California Elections Code, the undersigned, registered qualified voters of the Grand Terrace City, County of San Bernardino County, State of California, hereby give notice that we are the proponents of a recall petition and that we intend to seek your recall and removal from the office of Council Member, in the Grand Terrace City, County of San Bernardino, State of California, and to demand an election of a successor for that office. The grounds for the proposal recall are as follows:
The answer of the officer sought to be recalled is as follows:

It is our belief that you have failed to fulfill the responsibilities of your office by being fiscally irresponsible and disregarding the lives and safety of our citizens. It is our perception that you have conspired to allocate redevelopment monies to benefit private interests. You have, we believe, violated California law by holding secret meetings and making illegal decisions. It is our belief that you made decisions and conspired in matters affecting public finance, public health and safety, in private, in secret communications, and through third party contacts. We believe that your conduct exposes the City to litigation, including the Brown Act, and liability, the public to harm, and compromises City finances. The names of the proponents (business or residence addresses are on file with the elections official) are as follows:

Kimberly A. Stromwall
Ronald Ogawa
William Hays
Cynthia Bidney
Patricia Farley
Georgine E. Gehrig
Diane Gehrig
Milford G. Herman
Mark R. Garcia
Lawrence A. Stromwall

The answer of the officer sought to be recalled is as follows:

All of the allegations are baseless. It is my view that this group’s attacks on every issue are designed to hide the fact that they have no constructive ideas of their own. In my opinion, the “private interests” these people are against are the businesses this City needs and a new library our community deserves. There have been no secret meetings or illegal decisions. In my view, these people are simply upset that I have refused to let them monopolize discussions at Council meetings. I believe that if they could, they would control all debate before, during and after anyone spoke on any issue they were against. As a former Terrace View principal, I would lever harm the lives and safety of our citizens and their children. It is my opinion that since I have been unwilling to place the interests of this one group above the interests of the community as a whole, they are now resorting to intimidation tactics. I respectfully request that you decline to sign this petition.

Each of the undersigned states for himself/herself that he or she is a registered and qualified elector of the San City of Grand Terrace San Bernardino County, California, USA.